Read, Right & Run in Columbia, Ill.

Kids at the Columbia (Ill.) Middle School don't have to look very far for inspiration to participate in the Read, Right & Run Marathon program. There are lots of distance runners among the faculty.

Principal Roger Chamberlain recently competed in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. Although he's not a Marine veteran, Chamberlain said, "I've always wanted to run in that marathon."

Ten of the 45 teachers on the staff have completed at least one marathon. There's a joke around the school that, to get hired, new teachers need their long-distance running records on their resumes.

Gym teacher Keith Jany said the school expects 100 kids to enroll in RRR this year.

St. Louis area kids participating in Read, Right & Run don't run their marathon all at one time. They sign up to run one mile a week, read one book a week and do at least one good deed every week.

Next spring, the kids will come to St. Louis April 7-9 for a Health and Fitness weekend. Area middle school students like those from Columbia Middle will run a final 3.1 miles while elementary kids will run 1.2 miles.

Together with running they've done during the school year, they will have finished the 26 miles, 385 yards of a traditional marathon race. (For details on the Family Fitness Weekend and other marathon activities, visit www.stlouismarathon.com)

Jordan Chamberlain

Twelve-year-old Jordan Chamberlain is the principal's daughter. She was one of the students who've participated in RRR when the school entered two years ago.

In the 2004-2005 school year, the school didn't participate. The students and teachers were coping with a disastrous fire and school rebuilding.

But, this year, the Columbia school is back in RRR. That's because the three-fold purpose of the program fits right into the school's philosophy of teaching.

The students have a full physical fitness program, with gym classes, sports and even a Fitness Friday with free time for individual physical activity.

Reading is also stressed at the school. And, the school's character education program even includes a family yard banner program. There are numerous "Going the Extra Mile" banners in the front yards of many kids' homes.

Mackenzie Burkemper

Thirteen-year-old Mackenzie Burkemper said she's meeting her reading requirement by reading in class and at home. "I read at least 30 minutes a day at home," she said. The 8th grader said she likes the RRR program because "I like to get in shape and help others."

She said she gets some of this running in with her mother. "Every Sunday, my mother and I run on the high school track," the 8th grader said. Principal Chamberlain said the high school officials allow others besides their own students to run on their new track.

Seventh grader Jordan Chamberlain said she does some of her good deeds through the Beta Club at school. "The club members do community service hours for honor roll credit," she said. She'll help at a Christmas craft show for elementary school kids.

Coleman Cromwell (l) and Black Byrd

Thirteen-year-old Coleman Cromwell said the running requirement helps him get in shape for soccer and track. He runs the 400 meters and on the 1,600-meter relay.

The 8th grader said he belongs to the youth group at church and the Boy Scouts. These activities give him opportunities to do good deeds.

Twelve-year-old Blake Byrd said many of his "good deeds" involve doing chores at home. Asked about the chore he likes least, he said, "Picking up sticks in the yard. We have a big, big yard."

The 7th grader said he gets other exercise besides running. "We go to a workout facility in Chesterfield (Mo.)," he said.

Taylor Poole (l) and Ashley Newton

Eleven-year-old Taylor Poole and 11-year-old Ashley Newton share a locker at school. They also share an interest in reading. By the first week in November, both girls already had read over half of the books required for RRR.

Both girls said they like the Lemonye Snickett series, "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

Taylor said she gets most of her running requirement done during basketball practice and at home.

Ashley said she had completed 8½ miles of the running by the first part of November.

Joshua Spradling (l) and Joseph Whitman

Ten-year-old Joshua Spradling said he's doing a lot of his running around the baseball field at school. "Five times around the field represents a mile," the 5th grader said.

Eleven-year-old Joseph Whitman said he gets his exercise with more than just running. "I do pushups and sit-ups every morning," the 6th grader said.